Press Release - Northwest Osoyoos Sewer Extension Project Complete

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More than two years after the start of construction, and more than 20 years after officials first called for improved sewer services along the northwest shore of Osoyoos Lake, the Northwest Osoyoos Sewer Extension Project is complete. On Aug. 29, the last of approximately 130 properties on the northwest shore of Osoyoos Lake were told that they can now connect to the town’s sewer system.



“Our Government is supporting projects like the Northwest Osoyoos Sewer Extension Project to strengthen Canada’s growing and vibrant communities,” noted Dan Albas, Member of Parliament for Okanagan-Coquihalla, on behalf of the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification. “This project has served to improve essential services in Osoyoos while making certain that they are environmentally sustainable, and to create jobs, growth, and long-term prosperity.”



“By supporting communities to bring environmentally friendly projects such as this to fruition, we’re creating an improved, more sustainable province for B.C. families,” said Boundary-Similkameen MLA John Slater. “The Canada-British Columbia Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund exemplifies partnership in action and the significant impact we can have when we work together to accomplish what would be impossible if we were working in isolation.” 



Osoyoos Mayor Stu Wells says completion of the 10-kilometre sewer extension is great news for Osoyoos, for the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS), and especially for Osoyoos Lake. “For years, we’ve been concerned about the impact that development northwest of town was having on the lake. We knew that the proximity of septic fields to Osoyoos Lake posed significant health and environmental risks. With the completion of this project, those risks have been eliminated.”



Mayor Wells says he’s especially pleased that the project came in on time and within budget. “It took patience, an incredible amount of hard work and a lot of different groups to come together – including the affected property owners – to make this project a reality.”



The two key players throughout the process were the RDOS and the Town of Osoyoos. The town, which owns the system, entered into a service agreement with the RDOS to provide the sewer service. In turn, the RDOS agreed to administer the funding.



RDOS Area “A” Director Mark Pendergraft says the project really became a reality in 2007 when the RDOS successfully applied for a grant from the Canada-BC Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund. “The $4.5-million grant was enough to cover two-thirds of the $6.4 million it would require to complete the project. That was the turning point.” 



Shortly after, the Okanagan Basin Water Board contributed an annual grant of $80,891. Then two major developments – Willow Beach at the head of the lake and Reflection Point at 87^th Street and 120^th Avenue – expressed a desire to join the project. The Willow Beach developers contributed $950,000 to hook up 40 lots at its location and to offset costs for other homeowners along the lake. Reflection Point contributed $154,000 to service its lots and to pay for upgrades needed for the Osoyoos sewer system. 



The remaining $1 million came from the affected property owners. Each had the choice of paying a one-time fee of $8,000 or $890 a year over 20 years. Homeowners were responsible for the cost of installation from the edge of their property to their residence and were required to decommission their own septic tanks. Finally, they had to pay a one-time connection fee and an annual service fee set by the town.



TRUE Engineering served as consulting engineers for the project, securing right of way agreements with several property owners.



Since the launch of the Canada-British Columbia Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (CBCMRIF) in June 2006, federal, provincial and local governments have invested more than $220 million in B.C. infrastructure projects, with each level of government contributing one third. CBCMRIF has supported smaller communities across B.C. to become stronger and healthier places to live. More details on the program, now fully allocated, are available at www.canadabcmrif.ca.  

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Town of Osoyoos

Box 3010, 8707 Main Street

Osoyoos BC  V0H 1V0

(TF) 1.877.495.6515

(T)   250.495.6515

(F)   250.495.2400

(E)   tosoyoos@osoyoos.ca